Senate Dems fail to advance tax extenders bill for the third time  —  Senate Democrats on Thursday failed for a third time to advance legislation to extend unemployment benefits through November.  —  In a 57-41 vote, the Senate failed to end debate on the legislation.

An apology to my readers  —  I'm a member of an off-the-record list-serv called “Journolist,” founded by my colleague Ezra Klein.  Last Monday, I was deluged with angry e-mail after posting a story about Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.) that was linked by the Drudge Report with a headline intimating …

Sarah Palin is toxic  —  Commentators keep telling us how influential Sarah Palin's endorsements are, and even if the whole “mama grizzly” meme is clearly overstated, there's no quibbling with the fact that Palin has pull among GOP primary voters.  —  But the more interesting point …

Judge Faces Death Threats After BP Gulf Oil Drilling Moratorium Ruling  —  New Orleans—While many Americans undoubtedly agree with the decision of U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman to overturn the Obama administration's moratorium on deep water drilling, not everyone is happy.

Arizona Dem: Federal Agencies Nixing Conventions Over State's Immigration Law  —  Demonstrators gather in front of the White House June 3 during a protest against the Arizona immigration law.  (AP Photo)  —  Two federal agencies have joined the “boycott Arizona” trend and nixed conferences …

Iranian aid flotilla cancelled, won't sail to Gaza  —  Organizers cite ‘Israeli threats’ as the reason for canceling the flotilla; separate Iranian ship heads to Gaza via Caspian Sea.  —  One of the organizers of an Iranian aid flotilla that was to said to Gaza in efforts to break Israel's naval blockade …

I like Obama... and he's right to have a go at us for polluting his country  —  THE shocking images of oil-covered wildlife and ruined beaches across the Gulf of Mexico have horrified millions.  —  But passionate green campaigner Sir Paul McCartney believes the environmental disaster …

Sharron Angle's Fringe Third Party Sponsored Virulently Anti-Gay Flier In '90s  —  The far-right third party that Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle called home in the 1990s supported abolishing “the debt money system” and ran a vitriolic anti-gay insert in state newspapers that portrays LGBT people …

Harris: Obama knew of Blagojevich plot  —  A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich's plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate.  —  John Harris, Blagojevich's former chief of staff …

In Afghanistan, Petraeus will have difficulty replicating his Iraq success  —  This week's confrontation between a senior Army general and the president of the United States may have signaled the beginning of the end of the war in Afghanistan.  In a year or two, President Obama will be able …

House passes campaign finance bill  —  Overcoming opposition from within their own ranks, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Democratic leaders pushed through a controversial campaign finance reform bill on Thursday on a 219 to 206 vote.  —  The DISCLOSE Act - Democracy is Strengthened …

UPDATE Exclusive: Antonio Villaraigosa free tickets are worth $50,000 to $100,000.  Full list here of 80 free events; corruption laws ignored  —  By Tibby Rothman and Jill Stewart  —  L.A. Weekly is publishing below its exclusive ticket price list for the 80 events to which Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa accepted free seats.

Rand Paul speaks on McChrystal and BP  —  I got a chance to talk to Rand Paul after his low-dollar D.C. fundraiser Wednesday, and asked him about the McChrystal kerfuffle and the controversy over his take on the BP spill.  —  RN: Do you agree with the president's decision to accept Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation?

What Does Future Hold For Honest Services Fraud?  —  The Skilling ruling, we can say comfortably, was a win for defense lawyers and a blow to prosecutors.  —  For a deeper level of sophistication, we interviewed Robert Plotkin (pictured), the head of McGuireWood's SEC Enforcement group.

Senate Dems vow action on energy bill  —  Moved by photos of the devastation from the Gulf oil spill, Democratic senators emerged this afternoon from a caucus-wide meeting determined to tackle a comprehensive energy bill this summer — regardless of legislation's ability to win the 60 votes needed to pass.

Al Gore A “Crazed Sex Poodle?”  —  Masseuse's claims read like R-rated vice presidential fan fiction  —  In a bizarre statement to police, the Oregon woman who claims that Al Gore fondled and groped her during a massage session described the former Vice President as a giggling “crazed sex poodle” …

White House Picks Critic of Local Immigration Enforcement for Key Role at ICE  —  Harold Hurtt, a former police chief in Houston and Phoenix, has been hired as the director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of State and Local Coordination.

Navy exaggerations damage Ill. Senate candidate  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Republican Mark Kirk has stepped on a political landmine of his own creation, leaving him as damaged as his Democratic opponent in the race for an Illinois Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama.

Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way  —  So, we just spoke with Apple and got the straight dirt on the reception issues that have been plaguing users today... and it's a little surprising.  In essence, Apple cops to the fact there are reception issues …

Massachusetts town opts for unlimited, free condoms for all children, starting in elementary school  —  What the world needs now are condoms, sweet condoms...  No, not a new song by Dionne Warwick.  But it could be the theme song for one Massachusetts school system.

Key Job Changing Hands at Justice  —  David J. Barron, the acting head of the Justice Department's powerful Office of Legal Counsel, will step down next month and be replaced by one of his current deputies, Jonathan G. Cedarbaum, the department said Thursday.